Permitting adolescent drinking 'could increase problems'

Allowing adolescents to drink alcohol, even under adult supervision, could increase their tendency to drink more as they grow up.

This is according to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, which found that parents tend to take one of two approaches towards teenage drinking.

They either deliver a zero tolerance approach to alcohol or they allow their children to drink alcohol in small amounts occasionally if there is an adult present.

However, more parents may want to consider the first option, since the survey of 1,900 teenagers showed that youths who were allowed some alcohol had an increased level of alcohol use in their later teenage years.

They were also more likely to experience harmful consequences in their later life.